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Danbury realtor to appear on TLC’s ‘My First Home’

Tuesday, May 21, 2013 by:Scott Gargan
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When it comes to finding your first house, “not every home is perfect.”

That’s the advice Kim Gifford, a Danbury realtor (above), gives to first-time home-buyers.

“You, the buyer, will make it a perfect home,” she said in a recent interview. “(Home-buyers) should definitely have a realtor help them who knows the ins and outs of the area because they may have commuting, shopping and school needs and the realtor can make the right recommendations for them.”

Now, Gifford will have the chance to share that advice with thousands of TV viewers when she appears on TLC’s “My First Home” on Saturday, May 25 at 12:30 p.m.

The new series is set to feature realtors and buyers from all over the East Coast as they search for the ideal home. In the episode in which Gifford stars, she helps a couple find a house in Newtown.

“They focus on how emotional it is to buy a home,” Gifford, works at Coldwell Banker, said of the program. “They particularly wanted to see couples with a lot of drama, because it makes for an interesting show.”

Check out snippets of previous episodes, below:

The Black Keys plan Connecticut tour stop this summer

Monday, May 20, 2013 by:Scott Gargan
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The Black Keys have logged thousands of miles since the start of the spring, touring across South America before returning stateside for a string of concert dates.

Though they won’t be spending too much time in the Northeast this summer, the Nashville duo will stop off at Hartford’s Comcast Theatre for a performance on Tuesday, July 9.

Tickets for the show go on sale Thursday, May 23 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster or the band’s website.

The Black Keys will be joined by The Flaming Lips for several concerts this summer. Whether or not the groups will team up for the Hartford show remains to be seen, though, given that the Lips’ previously scheduled July 15 show in Simsbury was canceled recently, it looks like their scheduled has just opened up.

As of now, the Welsh alternative rock trio The Joy Formidable are slated to open for The Black Keys in Hartford.

The Black Keys are currently working on the follow up to their Grammy Award-winning seventh studio album, “El Camino.”

Bridgeport’s The Stepkids cover Justin Timberlake’s ‘Suit & Tie’

Thursday, May 16, 2013 by:Scott Gargan
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The Stepkids have been busy as of late, readying the release of their forthcoming sophomore LP, “Troubadour,” and touring the eastern half of the country.

The Bridgeport band has managed to get some down time, however, dishing out live jazz/lounge covers of two wildly popular songs: Justin Timberlake’s “Suit & Tie” and Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” (check out both versions, below).

“Troubadour,” the follow up The Stepkids’ self-titled debut album, is set to drop this fall. The band recently previewed a new track, “The Art of Forgetting,” in a video shot at Red Bull Studio Los Angeles (see below).

The band’s current tour includes dates at Brooklyn Bowl on Wednesday, May 22 (with King Holiday and Every Flavor Weather Machine), Prospect Park Bandshell on Friday, Aug. 2 (with Jamie Lidell and Purchase College alum Dan Deacon) and the Bonnaroo Music Festival on Thursday, June 13.

Bridgeport’s Downtown Thursdays line-up announced

Wednesday, May 15, 2013 by:Scott Gargan
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Live music is returning to McLevy Green this summer.

Downtown Thursdays, Bridgeport’s free annual concert series, kicks off on Thursday, June 6 and continues every Thursday — with the exception of July 4 — until Aug. 29. Concerts start at 6 p.m.

The 12-week series brings a mix of rock, reggae, funk and folk acts from across the Tri-State area to Downtown Bridgeport, creating a carnivalesque atmosphere that lures families and young professionals alike.

“Downtown Thursdays brings top local acts from a variety of musical genres to the heart of our walkable, vibrant downtown neighborhood in historic McLevy Green,” Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch said in a statement. “I invite Bridgeport residents and visitors from our neighboring towns to check out a concert this summer, have dinner at one of our excellent restaurants and enjoy a Thursday evening in downtown.”

Check out the line-up, below:

  • June 20 – Natural Wonder (Bridgeport/Stevie Wonder covers); The Chords

  • July 11 – Special guest to be announced…

  • Aug. 29 – Lovewhip (Boston/disco pop, world rock)

 

 

Alive @ Five 2013 openers announced

Tuesday, May 14, 2013 by:Scott Gargan
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We’ve already heard and reacted to the news about this year’s Alive @ Five line-up, which includes the Wallflowers, Bret Michaels and Michael McDonald.

Now, the bands that will support the headline acts have been announced, via the Stamford Downtown Special Services District (check them out, below).

The openers were chosen from a pool of 400 submissions, with each band matched up with its corresponding headliner according to genre, according to the DSSD.

The summer concert series is to begin on Thursday, June 20 and continue every Thursday — with the exception of July 4 — until Aug. 15. Attendees age 12 and younger will be admitted free, but must enter before 7 p.m. The openers go on at 5 p.m.

Shelton family competes on ‘Feud’

Tuesday, May 14, 2013 by:Scott Gargan
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Pictured: With “Family Feud” host Steve Harvey are members of the Baldyga family of Shelton, from left, Kristen, her sister Kellie, her sister Kim, her husband Ken, and her father Ken.

For one Shelton family, “It’s time to play the Feud!”

Taking the stage in front of a live studio audience in Atlanta, the Baldyga family squared off against the Patel family of Chicago in an episode of “Family Feud” airing Tuesday.

“Regardless of winning and losing, it was so much fun,” said Kellie Baldyga, an account director in Norwalk. “It was by far one of the best experiences we had individuals and as a family. It’s definitely one of the top three experiences in our life.”

As for Steve Harvey, the show’s waggish host, Baldyga said, “He was the nicest, most charming guy.”

“It’s like you’re in audience for an eight-hour comedy show every day,” recalled Baldyga, who, along with her family members, sat in the crowd as they waited for their turn to compete. “He makes you feel comfortable on stage.”

The Baldygas got the chance to play on “Family Feud” after winning a contest hosted by Foxwood Resort and Casino last year. As the family learned, the “Feud” starts long before the actual competition.

“You have to re-audition when you get to Atlanta,” Baldyga said. “If you’re not enthusiastic enough, or nervous on the stage, you could be sent home. Even then it’s a gamble.”

Fortunately, The Baldygas succeeded. But did they go on to win the $100,000 prize?

Tune into find out when the Baldygas episode of the “Family Feud” airs Tuesday, May 14 at 10:30 a.m. on Channel 20 WCCT and at 5 p.m. on My 9, WWOR; or on Tuesday, July 2 at 5:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Aug. 27 at 5 p.m. (check back for information on the channels).

 

‘All My Children’ spends day at the beach

Monday, May 13, 2013 by:Scott Gargan
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Since being revived earlier this year, “All My Children” has been filming primarily on location in Stamford’s West Side.

But on Monday, cast members of “AMC” spent a day at the beach — Darien’s Weed Beach to be exact — shooting scenes for an upcoming episode of the popular, and now online-only, soap.

Pictured is director Christopher Goutman with Denyse Tonz (who plays Miranda Montgomery) and Eric Nelsen (who plays AJ Chandler).

“AMC” airs on the Online Network.

New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast to give Greenwich talk

Monday, May 13, 2013 by:Scott Gargan
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New Yorker cartoonist and Ridgefield resident Roz Chast will give a talk at the Greenwich Library Cole Auditorium on Monday, May 13 at 7 p.m.

Chast will speak about her work in the Flinn Gallery exhibition, “Very Short Stories: Conceptual Illustration,” which will be open that evening. There will be a book signing following the talk.

Chast’s cartoons about neuroses and general angst have been running in The New Yorker since 1978. She lives in Ridgefield with her husband, fiction writer Bill Franzen.

The Flinn Gallery is open Sunday, 1-5 p.m.; Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

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